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How To Give Your Pet CPR
In emergencies, knowing how to perform CPR on your pet can be life-saving. While it’s crucial to seek professional veterinary help immediately, CPR can stabilize your pet’s condition until you reach a veterinarian. This guide provides step-by-step instructions on how to perform CPR on pets.
If you need additional assistance while performing CPR during business hours, phone your closest MustCare Vet Centre. For after hours emergencies, phone Animal Emergency Service.
Assess The Situation
Before starting CPR, ensure your pet is indeed in need of it. Check if your pet is unconscious and not breathing or lacking a pulse.
Be aware that performing CPR on a pet that doesn’t need it can cause injury.
Safety And Preparation
- Ensure you’re in a safe location to perform CPR.
- Move your pet to a flat surface if possible.
- Lay your pet on its right side. For small pets, one-handed technique is used, while larger pets require two-handed CPR.
- Clear The Airway: Gently open your pet’s mouth and ensure the airway is clear of any obstruction. Be careful to avoid being bitten.
- Begin Rescue Breaths: Close your pet’s mouth and breathe directly into their nose until you see their chest rise. For smaller pets, cover both the nose and mouth with your mouth.
- Begin Chest Compressions: Place your hands over the widest part of the pet’s rib cage. For larger dogs, use the two-handed method on the top of the rib cage. For smaller pets, use one hand or thumb for compressions.
- Compression Technique: Compress the chest about 1/3 of its width, at a rate of 100-120 compressions per minute. Alternate between compressions and rescue breaths at a ratio of 30:2.
- Continue CPR: Continue performing CPR until you notice signs of life, or until professional help is available.
- Post CPR Care: After stressful CPR, keep your pet calm and warm, and visit the veterinarian for further evaluation. Write down any information you can remember about what happened – for instance, how you found your pet, what time it was (if you can remember), how long you performed CPR for. Note anything in your surroundings that is out of place or unusual – remnants of anything that may have been swallowed, or if there is something out of place.
While CPR can be critical skills in emergencies, it is not a substitute for veterinary care. Consider enrolling in a pet first aid course for more comprehensive training.
Disclaimer:
This guide is for informational purposes only. Always seek professional veterinary assistance in emergencies.
